Knock-down wooden container for plants and the like



May 14, 1957 R. c. SANDKUHLE 2,792,142

' KNOCK-DOWN WOODEN CONTAINER FOR PLANTS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 10, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS May l4, 1957 R. c. sANDKul-ILE 2,792,142

KNOCK-DOWN WOODEN CONTAINER FOR PLANTS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. lO, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 KNOCK-DOWN WOODEN CONTAINER'FOR PLANTS AND THE LIKE Raymond C. Sandkuhle, San Jose, Calif. Application Novemberl10, 1953, Serial VNo.391,16"7

3 Claims. (Cl.-21712) recent years. Tubs for this purpose should be relatively inexpensive in order tond a ready market, and in order to conserve space they should be capable of being nested easily and also of being shipped in knocked down condition wherever possible.

The present invention is concerned with the provision of a wooden tub which will be satisfactory for containing potted plants and trees, and which is capable of being assembled by the purchaser without the useof expensive tools. The invention is Vfurther characterized by the almost automatic intertting of the parts in proper position for assembly, and the rigidity and permanence of the tub once-it has been assembled. Avfurther aim ofthe invention is to provide a lcnockdown tub having corner postsiandxintermediate panels with encircling bands delinitely positioned relative to the structural portions of the tub, together with means for tautening the bands about kthe tub. A still further object is to provide a simple kit from which a sturdy tubmay be easily fabricated by an inexperienced person without the use of tools extraneous to the kit.

These and other objects `and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of `a plant tub embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary :sectional view taken through the corner structure `of the tub shown in Fig. 1 substantially along the line 2-2 thereof.

Fig. .3 is a similarly enlarged, fragmentary, edge elevational `view of the upper portion ofthe corner post `shown in Figs. l and 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of portions of an encircling band with Ia fastening clip therefor, the fastening clip being shown in solid lines in clamping position, and in broken lines in open position.

Fig. 5 Vis an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view through a central portion of the bottom structure of the tub shown in Figs'. 1,2, and '9.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a band tautening device, a portion of a side llange thereof being broken away, the device being shown in solid lines in bandtautening position, and in broken lines in swung-over position. to bend the tub encircling band to clip-engaging position.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged end elevational view of the band tautening device shown in Fig. 6 with a modified form of turning key mounted therein.

i Fig. 8 is a fragmentary edge elevational view of a corner post having a modified form of hole therethrough.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary sectional View similar to Fig.

nited States Patent 2,792,142 Patented May 14, y1957' 2, but embodying a corner post vsimilar to thatl illustrated in Fig. 8.

`Fig. 10 is an end elevational view of a strip of wood used for making the corner posts, the various cuts used in shaping thev piece being indicated in broken lines.

The invention as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, comprises a kit for making a square wooden plant tub, and the tub made therefrom. Tubs of other cross sectional shapes may be made by varying the number'and width of the sides, and their angle of incidence, while ICC still employing the invention disclosed herein.

ln the completely assembled tub A shown in Fig. 1, four corner posts 1t) are grooved lengthwise to receive therein the edges of four similar intermediate side wall panels 11. A bottom `structure 12 is provided, vand the entire structure is bound into relatively interlocked relation by a pair of encircling metal bands 13, 13.

The side panels 11` preferably are of wood, each being in the shape of a symmetrical trapezoid, with the shorter of the parallel edges 11d thereof at the bottom and the grain running from side to side, or in other words in the direction of the two parallel edges thereof, if desired', each side panel 11 may be assembled from a plurality of narrower boards, as indicated by the division line 11b in Fig. l.

The bottom structure 12 consists of two side members 15, 1S, beveled at 15a on their inner edges, and an interposed center member 16, beveled on both of its edges 16h, b'to correspond to the bevel of the inner edges of the side members 1S, 15 and wedged therebetween. The assembled bottom i2 is square with its corners 12b cut olf to clear the corner posts 10. The marginal edges 12C of the assembled bottom (Fig. 2) are fitted into grooves V17 providedV therefor on the inner faces of the side panels 1f. parallel to, and closely adjacent, their lower edges 11a.

The corner posts 10, tapered panels v11, and bottom assembly 12 preferably are made from a type of wood, such as redwood or cypress, which will resist rot and the attacks of insects.

Each corner post 10 is made from what 1s originally a rectangular wooden strip 18 (Fig. 10) .Y The two inner corners of the lboard 1S are'beveled off at 19, 19 so that these beveled faces are of a width `greater than the thick# ness of the side panels 11. For a tub of rectangular cross section, which is the particular embodiment selected to illustrate the invention, the beveled faces 19, 19 are disposed atan angle of degrees'to each other, and at angles of 45 degrees to the side edges 20, 20 of the original strip 18. The outer corne-rs of each corner post 18 also preferably are beveled olf at 21, 21 for the sake of appearance, as are also the top outer and inner edges at 22 and 23 (Fig. l).

A pair of panel-receiving grooves 24, 24 of rectangular cross sectional configuration are provided vone in each ofthe beveled inner faces 19, 19 of each corner post 10. Each groove 2d has its side walls disposed at right angles to the beveled face 19 in which it is cut, and is of a size to receive the non-parallel edges llc, 11C of the side panels 11 therein. Two holes 25, y2S (Figs. l, 2 and 3) are provided transversely through each corner post at a depth to intersect both longitudinal grooves 24, 24 in their respective corner posts. These holes 2S, 25 are of a size to receive the encircling bands 13, 13 therein.

When the side panels 11 are fitted into the grooves 24 in the corner posts to form a tapered tub wall enclosure 28 asshown in Figs 1 and 2, and the bands are drawn taut in a manner to be described later herein, they will indent the outer corners 29 (Fig. 2) of the side panels which are exposed within the holes 25, 25 at their points of intersection with the grooves 24. This indenting of the .wise-displacement in'their grooves, and in the case ofY assembled. side panels securely `locks the panel portions against relative movement.

A pair of band receiving grooves 30, 38 are cut to exte'nd'transversely of the outer face of each side panel 11. These grooves are located to align with the holes 25, 25in the corner posts when the side panels are assembled with :the corner posts to form the enclosing wall 28 as shown in Fig. l. The encircling bands 13, 13 preferably are of -at, easily bendable metal such as mild steel or brass and are provided as part of the kit from which the tub A 4is to be assembled.

The tub encircling bands 13, 13 are each provided with similar end fastening clips 32, 32 (Figs. 4 and 6). Each clip 32 consists of a sheet metal channel portion 33 of `an internal width to receive an encircling band 13 therein. "During manufacture of the clip, a pair of wide ears 34, v34 are bent inwardly to overlie the bottom 35 of the clip channel portion 33 at one -end thereof, land are spaced Iupwardly from the channel bottom 35 to provide a rectangular tunnel 37 of a height to receive two thicknesses `"-of the band material therein in relatively superposed relation. A second, narrower pair of ears 38, 38 are pro- 'vided on the opposite end of each clip 32 from the wide ears 34, 34. During manufacture, these narrower ears 4are formed in their outwardly extending or broken line position as shown in Fig. 4.

For drawing the bands 13, 13 taut about the assembled tub A, a band tautening device B (Fig. 6) is pro- -vided. This device comprises a section 40 of rigid chanknel metal of a width to receive the material of the bands 13, 13 therein. A pair of axially aligned holes 41, 41 are Aprovided in the central zone of the channel side iianges 42, 42. A band tightening key 43 for winding the band material thereon has a shank portion 44 of round metal rod '-of a size to it into the holes 41, 41 for journal support therein. The shank portion 44 has a slit 45 diametrically of the terminal end portion thereof, and this slit is of a 1' size to receive the material of the bands 13, 13 therein when the crank is journaled in the holes 41, 41 of the Ichannel member 40vas shown in Fig. 6. The key 43 is A'provided with a laterally bent handle portion 47 for use in turning the key.

The kit for making the tub A consists of the necessary plurality of corner posts 10, a corresponding number of nside panels 11, the bottom members 15, and 16, two lengths of metal band material of a length sufficient to form the tub encircling bands 13, 13, two clips 32, a

channel member 40 and a key 43.

To assemble the tub A, the side panels 11 are fitted -into the grooves 24 of the corner posts 10 with the grooves 30, 30 aligned with the holes 25, 25 as shown in Figs. l and 2. The panels 11 preferably are of a length -so that their downwardly converging side edges 11c, 11e are of the same length as the grooves 24 in the corner posts into which they are fitted. This facilitates positioning the panels with their upper and lower ends substantially flush with the ends of the corner posts.

The bands 13, 13 are threaded through their respective holes 25, 25 in the successive corner posts 10 enytirely around the tub. A clip 32 then is attached to one 'end of each band by inserting the band end into the tunnel portion 37 of the clip from the left hand end of the clip as shown in Fig. 6 and the end portion 48 of the band is allowed to project approximately the length of the clip 32 beyond it. This projecting portion 48 (Figs. 4 and 6) is bent reversely upon itself beneath the clip to anchor the band against Withdrawal under tension which may be exerted on the portion of the band which encircles the tub.

The other end portion 50 (Fig. 6) of the band then is inserted through the tunnel portion 37 to project at 50 from the opposite end of the clip from the portion 48. The channel member 40 then is inserted beneath the overlying end portion 50 of the band and in contact with a pair of extensions 52, 52 on the sides of the tunnel 37 as shown in Fig. 6. The projecting end portion 50 of the band is fitted into the key slot and the key 43 is turned to wind the end portion 51 of the band onto the shank 44 of the key. The end 40a of the channel member 49 being positioned in abutting relation with the side extensions 52, 52 retains the clip 32 against endwise movement toward the channel member 40 and thus places the extending band portion 50, and thereby the entire tubencircling portion of the band which is continuous therewith, under tension, and forces the reverse bend 48a in the first end portion 48 of the band tightly against the clip 32. The bands 13, 13 should be placed under suicient tension by means of the key 43, to cause the bands to bite into the exterior corners 29 of the side panels in the grooves 24 as shown in Fig. 2.

When each of the bands 13, 13 has been suiciently tautened, the key 43 is gripped manually to maintain the band Yunder tension while the channel member 40 with the key therein is swung about the abutting ends of the channel 40 and the extensions 52, 52 on the clip 32 as a fulcrum to swing the extending band portion to the broken line position 50a of Fig. 6. This forms a second reverse bend 54 in the band over the wide ear portions 34, 34 of the clip and thus anchors this other end of the band against withdrawal from the clip. The key 43 then may be turned slightly in a reverse direction to relieve the extending band portion 50.1 from tension, and the key then may be withdrawn from the holes 41, 41 in the channel 40. This strips the curled end portion 51 from the key and leaves the extending band portion 50a in the broken line position shown in Fig` 6. The extending band portion 50 then may be cut off to leave a remaining portion 50b preferably slightly longer than the clip 32,

- which remaining portion then may be bent down to overlie closely the wide ears 34, 34 and to extend between the narrow upstanding ears 38, 38. These latter ears then are bent inwardly to the solid line position of Fig. 4

-to secure the remaining band extension 50b in this position.

Instead of the key 43 shown in Fig. 6, a large sized cotter key 57 (Fig. 7) may be substituted as a band tautening shank element, and a cross pin 58 may be pro- Vvided of a size to fit within the eye 59 of the cotter key to turn it.

When the corner posts are made of soft, easily split Wood, there may be danger of splitting them in the event that excess Winding force is exerted in tautening the bands 13, 13. For such wood, the modified construction of corner post shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is preferred.

The exterior conformation of the corner posts shown in Figs. 8 and 9 and the longitudinal panel receiving grooves therein are similar to the corresponding parts shown in Figs. l to 3 inclusive. Therefore, the same reference numerals will be employed for designating such corresponding portions of the corner posts shown in Figs.

' 8 and 9 with the suilix a added to those shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The modification shown in Figs. 8 and 9 consists in the provision of narrow rectangular holes 60 in each corner post 10a instead of the round holes 25, 25 shown in Figs. l to 3, inclusive. The rectangular holes 60 are so located as to intersect the panel r-ceiving grooves 24a, 24a just inwardly of their outermost corners 61, 61. Therefore, when each of the bands 13a, 13a is tautened, after an initial slight bite into the outer corners 62 of the side panels 11a, which are exposed within each hole 60, the inner side of the band will bottom on the flat inner face 60a of the hole 60 and thus will be prevented from biting into the corner posts to a depth which would allow the band to exert a substantial force on the corner post inwardly of the panels in the grooves 24a which might tend to split a soft or defective corner post.

The entire kit including the bands 13, 13 and tautening device B may be compactly packed in a relatively small package. The tautening device is so inexpensive that it can easily be included as a throw-away element of the kit without adding substantially to the cost thereof.

It has been found that even an unskilled person with a minimum amount of instruction such as that acquired from reading a simple instruction sheet is capable of assembling a tub embodying the invention from the kit thus provided. lf desired, the tub may be easily disassembled by cutting the bands 13, 13 to free the parts for disassembly. For reassembly of the tub, it is preferred to `employ new lengths of band material, with which the assembly procedure may ce repeated as described herein.

While I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the details thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is dened in the following claims.

I claim:

l. A knock-down container structure comprising four one-piece corner posts each having a pair of longitudinally extending channel grooves therein disposed with their longitudinal mid-planes at right angles to each other to receive the edge portions of a pair of wall panels therein, each corner post also having a plurality of openings transversely therethrough intersecting and exposing both of the grooves in each corner post at their bottoms, four symmetrical side panels mounted between the corner posts with the side edges of two of the panels seated in the channel grooves in each corner post and exposed in each of said transverse openings, a plurality of metal bands each being of a width corresponding substantially to that of the transverse openings encircling said panels and passing through one of the transverse openings in each corner post and overlying and engaging the panel edge portions exposed in each such opening, each band being drawn taut and secured under suicient tension to force it into partially embedded condition in the panel edge portions exposed in each transverse post opening, thereby anchoring the panels against endwise displacement in their grooves and forcibly urging each pair of adjoining panels toward each other to cause the panels to exert a camming action on the portion of the corner post inwardly thereof and thus to urge the panels more deeply into the grooves in which they are mounted, and a bottom member secured in the lower zone of the container.

2. A knock-down container structure comprising a plurality of one-piece corner posts each having a pair of longitudinally extending channel grooves therein disposed with their longitudinal mid-planes at intersecting angles to each other to receive the edge portions of a pair of wall panels therein, each corner post also having a plurality of openings transversely therethrough intersecting and exposing both of the grooves in each corner post at their bottoms, a plurality of symmetrical side panels mounted between the corner posts with the side edges of two of the panels seated in the channel grooves in each corner post and exposed in each of said transverse openings, a plurality of metal bands each encircling said panels and passing through a transverse opening in each co1- ner post and overlying and engaging the panel edge portions exposed in each such opening, each band being drawn taut and secured under sufficient tension to force it into partially embedded condition in the panel edge portions exposed in each transverse post opening, thereby anchoring the panels against endwise displacement in their grooves, and forcibly urging each pair of adjoining panels toward each other to cause the panels to exert a camming action on the portion of the corner post inwardly thereof and thus to urge the panels more deeply into the grooves in which they are mounted, and a bottom member secured in the lower zone of the container.

3. A knock-down container structure comprising a plurality of one-piece corner posts each having a pair of longitudinally extending channel grooves therein disposed with their longitudinal mid-planes at intersecting angles to each other to receive the edge portions of a pair of wall panels therein, each corner post also having a plurality of openings transversely therethrough intersecting and exposing both of the grooves in each corner post at their bottoms, a plurality of symmetrical trapezoid shaped side panels mounted between the corner posts with the non-parallel side edges of two of the panels seated in the channel grooves in each corner post and exposed in each of said transverse openings, a plurality of metal bands each encircling said panels and passing through a transverse opening in each corner post and overlying and engaging the panel edge portions exposed in each such opening, each band being drawn taut and secured under suiiicient tension to force it into partially embedded condition in the panel edge portions exposed in each transverse post opening, thereby anchoring the panels against endwise displacement in their grooves, and forcibly urging each pair of adjoining panels toward each other to cause the panels to exert a camming action on the portion of the corner post inwardly thereof and thus to urge the panels more deeply into the grooves in which they are mounted, and a bottom member secured in the lower zone of the container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,118,470 Bruggemann Nov. 24, 1914 1,403,981 Smith Ian. 17, 1922 1,581,518 Mount Apr. 20, 1926 1,628,938 Washburn May 17, 1927 2,042,329 Bigelow May 26, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS 871,001 IFrance Jan. 3, 1942 

